Extension drawer slide



Oct. 12, 1937. E. c. BULLOCK ET AL EXTENSION DRAWER SLIDE Filed July 16,1934 5 Sheets-Shet l 0d". 12, 1937. E.C. BULLO-CK ET AL 2,095,487

EXTENSION DRAWER SLIDE 5 Shets-Shet 5 Filed July 16, 1954 \n enToxsEarle; Q33 \lock Q n P\' PatentedOc t.12, j

Michigan 1 ;Mich., assignors t9 Metal Ofiice FurnitureCom 1. 'pany,Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation. of?

Application July 16,1934, seriamaizesezz y 6 cla ms, (01. 145- 77 v rour invention relates to filing cabinets or the like having projectibledrawerf and drawer sus pension :mechariismsfi' More particularly theinvention relates to mechanism wherein a drawer and itscantileverjsnspension are progressively d m a ou ly p ojected from the "filingucabinet. l H

This invention is along the same general lines issued hex emer20;;1934yNo. 1,981,246."

One of the primary improvements of this *ini as those'set forth. in thepatent r John iipe.

supporting means,"namely,balls in place of rollere This makes for aneasier ri nning con structionand alsoprovides an adtomaticadjustmentbetween the cantileversiispension and the drawerand also betweenthe lcantilever suspens ion'andthe cabinet. Inother words; for example', thetracks maybe slightly outfof aline ment and yet thecantilever extensionwill function. perfectlyinasmuch as the antifriction sphericalsupporting means therefor permits .a 'nniversalability lofadjiistment.Also,' it is to benoted that the bars connecting the sidechannels of this cantilever extension 'are somewhat flexibleoryieldableand therefore permit some distortion whereby"ft he partssmoothly engageto permitfe'ase of operation and smoothrunning Another advantage, isuthe provision of antifric tio n means betweemthe inner ends of thedrawer slides, and the v stationary tracks in order to prevent jthe rearof the drawer, when heavily loaded from tilting and gravitatingdownwardly and thereby causing) the frontupper edge of the drawertojcontact .against the top edge of the opening into, the filing cabinetasthe draweris Other advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds. 3 In. the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showingthe several members in fully retracted position,this view showing ."the

drawer removed and being taken from within the opening normally ocenpiedthereby. Certain f Fig. 2*is.a view similar ft oFig.1,showingafragmentary portionJof. the several members when located inytheir anyextended positions.

Fig. 3 is a completing view for the. showing alining cantileverextension. vention resides infthe substitution of spherical n thevertical reinforcing members I I is formed with stops LII 9.

Fig. 5isa' cross sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 1. r l

6 is asectional view taken along the line 6-61 of Fig; a r v r Fig. 7ispa fragmentary underplan view of Fig. fishowing. the constructionofthe outer end of the cantilever. extension. l

-8 isa view taken along the lin e 8--8 of is a perspective time antomatica lly "FigL lO is a side view, similar to th d isc losnre of Fig.1, showing a modifiedform of ourinvensectional view taken along the line'l'l--llof Fig.- 10. r

Like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views. i 1 l I r1 l Inthe .drawings,.numeral l indicates the walls of afiling cabinetwhich has vertically located 'reinforcingnstrips H.- Numeral l2,indicates the track. members. As the construction on both sides of thesliding. drawer mechanism is identicalonly one side thereof will bedescribed in detail. f K H H g 1 Each track member is weldediontoseveral of SeeFig. 4. The track member is of the shape shown m1 TES"PATENT .QFFICE Figs. wand 2, having a track l3 with raised portions-I4and 15, and astiffening flange l6, see' FigsJZ and 4; dependingtherefrom;= The track member IZ=is of*substantially ,channel shape inits central: portion-see Fig. 5. A depending flange H is integrally:formed with the upper flange of the track alongits central portion andThe web of the track memberdopposite to: the flange, is bodily offsetas. indicated at IB and thus a ball race. is

. formed. abalrzu is located therein. The off set formation, see Fig. 5,and the stops 19, see

Fig. '2, prevent removal of the ball.. During nor mal operation'of thedrawer the ball rides bej tween the upper flange of the ch'annel. shapedtruck memberaand the top sideof the cantilever extension; now to bedescribed. w

The track members l2, one of which vhas been able members 22,'the front,member 22 having rubber bumper means 23 thereon. A cross memdescribed indetail, receivex the cantilevenextension. This cantilever extensionconsists of .channeljrnembers2 I "connectedby slightly yieldwherebyoutward movement of the extension is limited.

Each of the side members 2| has a depending portion 24 and the webopposite this portion is stamped outwardly as indicated at 25 in orderto receive a ball 26 therein. Stop plates 21 and 28 are fastened in thisdepending portion 24 to limit the path of movement or the ball. Theupper flange is raised at its inner end to form a stop 29 which contactsthe ball 20, if necessary, when the drawer is extended, and assurescorrect positioning thereof. The lower flange of the side member 2| hasa ball 30 about centrally mounted therein by means of the socket member3| whereby it may have a slight vertical movement. A second ball 32 issimilarly mounted near the rear of the same member by means of anothersocket member and likewise has a limited amount of vertical movement.Also, chambers are formed around both of the balls 30 and 32. The ball32 is of slightly less diameter than the ball 30, say for reasons whichwill later appear. A roller 34, having axial extensions 35 at eitherside thereof, see Fig. '7 particularly, extends through a slot 36 in thelower flange and an upwardly extending portion 31 is crimped over asindicated at 38 in order to retain this roller member in position. Smallplates 39 are welded .at each side of the underside of the front end ofthese members 2|, and each receives a rubber bumper block 40 as clearlyshown in Fig. 9. These rubber blocks 40 abut stops-4| whichare rigidlyattached to the drawer. See Fig. 3.

Only a fragmentary part of the drawer 42 is shown. Numeral 44 indicatesthe drawer slides, one of these slides being attached to each side ofthe drawer. These slides 44 are received between the severalanti-friction means illustrated in Fig. 9. Rubber blocks 45 are attachedto the inner ends of the drawer slides by means of the clips 46, seeFig. 8, and these abut against extensions 8 when the drawer is moved toits inner position. These extensions are integral with the track membersl2, see Figs. 1 and 2. Numeral 4'! indicates the front of the drawer.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, these figures il- "lustrating a. modifiedform of our invention,

numeral I2 illustrates :the track member and indicates the modified formof the extension slide, one of these extension slides being utilized ateach side of the drawer.: Theseslides are independently movable. Thefront. part of the slide has a construction similar to that of the sidemember 2|, shown in Fig. 9, having a roller 52 and a centrally locatedspherical ball 53 but the rear of the slide is provided with a roller.54 revolubly mounted on the horizontally extending flange 55 as shown inFig. 11. The diameter of the roller is slightly less than thatof theball. This, flange continues downwardly as indicated at 56, extendsinwardly at 51 and terminates in a vertical portion 58. A ball 59 isreceived between the vertical portion 58 and the vertical portion 56 andstop means 60 and 6| limit the travel. of this ball.

The operation for the ball 68. The web of each extension slide is, ofcourse, offset as indicated at 10 to prevent disassembly of the ball 66from its ball race.

When the drawer is in its retracted position. the center of gravitytherein may be either at the front of the drawer or at the rear of thedrawer.

Referring now to Figs. 1-9, inclusive, if the center of gravity is atthe front of the drawer, the drawer slides will bear upon the centrallylocated balls 30 and tend to tilt downwardly about these balls as afulcrum. Rearwardly of this fulcrum the drawer slides bear against theballs 26 at their upper sides and the cantilever extension will bearupwardly against the balls 20 and, if the drawer is pulled outwardly,the drawer slides will roll upon the rollers 34.

If the center of gravity of the drawer is near its inner end, the drawerwill cause the drawer slides to tip downwardly at the rear of the balls30 but the balls 32, see Fig. 1, will prevent this movement when thedrawer is at or near its inner or retracted position. That is, thedrawer cannot tilt so that the front 41 thereof can contact with thecross member 9. In other words, as the drawer glides to its innerposition, the balls 32 roll up the inclines 5 and thus positively causethe front end of the drawer to assume its alined position between themembers 9. It is to be noted that this alining movement occurs onlyduring the inner fractional part of the movement of the drawer and thusthe operation of the balls 30 upon their inclined portions |4 ofthetrack member I3 is not hindered or obstructed in any manner.

The balls 3|! ride up their respective inclines 4 as the drawer ispulled to open position and slightly raise the drawer and thus uponreversal of this movement gravity will aid therein to cause a smooth anda full closing of the drawer as will be understood .by those skilled inthis art.

The operation of .the modified form of invention, shown in Figs. 10 and11, is substantially the same as that of the preferred form. The drawerslides 44 move with the drawer and roll upon the balls 53 and thus causean extending of the extension slides at half speed with respect to thespeed of movement of the drawer itself.

When the drawer is almost fully closed, the rollers 54 ride upon theraised portions 5 and thus the front 41 of the drawer isproperly locatedwith respect to the cross member 9. When the drawer is pulled open, therollers 54 roll down upon the level portion of the track |3 and provideclearance whereby the drawer slides 44 may properly tilt due to'theballs 53 running upon the raised portions l4. During the extension ofthe drawer the drawer slides 44 roll upon the front rollers 52 and thisgradually moves forwardly between the drawer slides 44 and the extensionslides similar to the movement of the rollers in the preferred form.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a filing cabinet having spacedapart horizontally positioned tracks in substantially the samehorizontal plane, an automatic alining cantilever extension comprisingvertically positioned channel members, means for holding the channelmembers one over each track. each lower flange of each channel memberbeing cutaway at a point intermediate its ends to form a hole therein, aball located in each of the holes. means to mount each ball in itsrespective hole whereby it has a. limited vertical movement,anti-friction means extension member comprising a vertical web locatedabove the said lower flange of eachof the channel members near the frontends-,; a; drawer mountedbetween the channel members, members fastenedat each side of the drawer, said members extendinginto said channelmembers and resting upon the said anti-friction means and the saidballs, an additional ball located between i the upperside of each of themembers whichare fastened to the sides of the drawer and the lower sideof the upper flange of each channel member,

anti-friction means above the rear portionsof, eachof the said channelmembers, stationary horizontal tracks for the last mentionedantifriction meanstto prevent upward movementof the said channel membersand balls located between the rear portions ofthe members attached tothe drawer andjsaid tracks, said balls being of a smaller diameter thanthe firstgmentioned balls, and each of said tracks having raisedportionsimmediatelyfbelow the smaller balls when the several parts arein their retracted positions. 2. In an extension slide, a case havingguide tracks on the sidesthereof, a horizontally sliding extensionmembergcomprising a verticalweb extended at the top into an invertedchannel for retaining a rolling-element therein, the bottom of the webbeingTbentjnto a horizontal flange,

one or more holes being formed in the horizontal flange, a plate with aholetherein being secured above the hole said flange and spaced awaytherefrom, a ball being inserted in the holes of the flange and retainedby said plate, the said holes being of a'sizeand shape to permit limitedC vertical displacement of the ball to project above the plate and belowtheflange, said plate being shaped to form antenclosure around the ball.

3. In an extension slide, a case having guide which is exteridedi at thetop into an inverted channel for retaining a roller element therein, andthe bottom of thewebbeing bent into alateral flange and again bentvertically upwardto form an upright channel adjacent to the web) twoholes suitably spaced apart being formedin said lateral flange, strapsto fit inside of the upright channel, said straps having their centralportion offset upwardly from the lateralfiange, a hole ineach of thestraps, said straps being secured. to the lateral flange with the holetherein directly over one of theholes in thefiange, a ball beingplacedinto the holes in the lateral flange and the oflset strap, theballs projecting above the straps and below the lateral flange, butbeing limited in movement, and an enclosed pocket being formed by theside walls of the upright channel and the offset central portion of thestraps.

4. In a device ofthe class described, a filing I cabinet having spacedapart horizontally 'positioned tracks in substantially the samehorizontal plane, an automatic alining cantilever extension comprisingvertically positioned channelflmembers, means ,J fOI" holding thechannelmernbers one over each track, 1eachlower flange; of I eachchannel member being cut away at a point intermediate its iendsto form ahole therein,a ball locatedin each ofthe holes, means to mount each,

ball in its respective hole whereby it has a lim ited vertical movement,anti-friction means lomounted between the channel m'embers membersfastened at each side "of the drawer, said mem bersextending intosaidchannel members and resting upon the saidahti-friction means and thesaid balls, an additionalball located between the upper side of each ofthe members which are fastenedto theflsides of th edrawer, andtl ielower side of the upper flange of each channelumemhorizontal tracksforthe last mentionedfantifriction' means to prevent upward movement ofthe saidchannel members, and balls located between the rear portions ofthe members attached cated abovesthe said lower flange of. each of thechannelymembers near the front ends, a drawer ber, anti-friction meansabove the rear portions of eachofthe said channel members, stationaryto'the drawer and-said. tracks, said ballsbeing of asmaller diameterthanthefirst mentioned balls,-.and=-each of said tracks havingraisedportions immediately below the smaller balls when the severalparts arein their retracted positions. 7

, 5. A cabinet casing, a drawer in said casing, means for shiftablysupporting the drawer in thecasing, said drawer supporting meanscomprising a pair of having means forming a drawer tracks loeated on thecasing in spaced parallel relationship to each otherxfa cantileverextension including two channels, members extending between the saidchannelmembers tdholdthem anti-friction means. similarly mounted at thefront end of each of the said channels, said drawer having meansattached thereto at either side thereof adapted to be received upon thesaid anti-friction means a third anti-friction means i positioned inthe'lower flanges, of each of the said channels near their rearportions, means for mounting the said third anti-friction means wherebytheyhave limited vertical movement,

said tracks having a raised portion underneath :the third anti-frictionmeans for the purpose described. a

6. In an extension drawer slide for a case,

, flanged channels secured to the sides of the case, *flanged drawerslides secured to the sides of the drawer, a pair of flanged extensionchannels slidable within the case slides and over the drawer slides, abearing ball mounted, about midway in leachof the bottom flanges of theextension channels, a second bearing ball of lesser diameter mountedrearwardly of the first ball, said balls vertically,- positionedabovethe tracks with the said channels facing inwardly toward'one another,anti-friction means located intermediately '1 of each of the channels inthe bottomfiange thereof, means for mounting the anti-friction 1 meansfor a limited vertical movement, a second riding between the respectivelower flanges of the case channels and the slides whereby a cantileversupport is efiected around the middle pairof bearing balls and a tiltingaction imparted to the extension slide when in extended position, and

a raised portion in the rearbottom flange of the,

case channels to form a support for the second pair of bearing balls andterminate thecantilever support around the first pair of bearing ballswhen the extension slide is in closed position.

, EARLE c. BULLOCK.

* JJOHN PIPE.

